DES MOINES – Former Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Democrat from Iowa, has died at a Des Moines hospital, according to his former Chief of Staff Grant Woodward.
Boswell was found unresponsive at his rural home Friday morning, and then was flown to Des Moines shortly after. He passed away at 5:30 p.m. He died from complications from Pseudomyxoma Peritonei. He battled this disease for 13 years.
Boswell was an 84-year-old Decatur County Democrat. He served in Congress between 1997 and 2013 when he retired. Before that, Boswell served in the Iowa Senate for 12 years. He was a Vietnam War veteran.
Boswell has been a big champion for vets’ rights. After leaving Congress, then-Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Boswell to serve on the Iowa Transportation Commission. He also dedicated his life to serving on the Board of Trustees of Graceland University, and Boswell is noted for bringing attention to our nation’s debt crisis through the Concord Coalition.
Boswell is survived by his wife Dody, three daughters, and one son. He has eight grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
